Funky Runners

Since I got my new sewing machine, I have - ironically - hardly had any time to play with it. Well yesterday I decided it was time to ditch my priorities for the moment (all that fun housework) and finally got around to one of my many projects that I'd been wanting to create.

What started off these two ideas was 1) Being very protective of my piano and blanket box and desperately wanting to protect them from hot cups or other items that could leave nasty scars behind; and 2) My parents are visiting from Sydney this week and I wanted the house to look as good as possible for their first visit, so I thought some extra colour may help that along!

I got my inspiration from this Mug Rug project so each of the runners has batting inside to give it that added bit of padding and protection. Now, my original plan was for both of the runners to look like the one on the blanket box but, stupidly, I miscalculated how much stripey material I would need and so had to put on my creative hat. I'm not sure if it was a good mistake ... or a bad mistake ... ??

So here they are.

Sewing Machine Update

I got my very own sewing maching today! It's a Janome Sewist 625E, and I picked up the very last one on sale at almost half the price from the Metro Sewing Centre at Preston. I'm very excited, and looking forward to testing it out. So bring on all of the projects I've got lined up!

Just stuff ...

Thought I'd update on my happenings in the world of sewing in the last few days!

1. I had my first sewing lesson on Thursday night, which was really great. I did sewing at school about 14 years ago for a term, with a teacher that was not very helpful (and that's putting it nicely) and so I muddled my way through, finally getting a final grade of "D"! So, many years on, I've finally discovered that sewing CAN be fun and now am looking forward to learning it properly, and probably finding out that the last few months have caused me to pick up some bad habits .. hmm. Even better? My sewing teacher is my lovely mother in law, and my "classmates" are my sister in law and good friend.

2. I'm getting a new sewing machine! I've been using my mum's old machine and, while it's served it's purpose up until now (while I proved the sewing thing wasn't just a passing phase), it really is a little old and has a few issues. Mum and Dad had already offered to pay for a sewing machine for my 30th birthday in Feb next year, but I realised I would need one sooner. Well, when Mum heard that, she straightaway deposited the money into my account as an early birthday present (woo hoooooo!) so in the next week I'll hopefully own a brand new machine! This is the one I've got my eye on at the moment (I've been doing the Librarian thing of doing heaps of research) Janome Sewist 525S

Toddler Bag Handle

I followed this tutorial from Make It and Love It, and it is so, so easy. It's for a lucky little boy who will be getting a baby brother or sister in about 7 weeks.

It's for the Little Man to hold when Mum's hands are occupied, e.g. with pushing a pram. It can be attached to her handbag (as shown), or even to the pram or shopping trolley handle.

The "Montana Bag"

My little neice Montana is turning 4 on Wednesday, so I thought I'd test my sewing and creative skills to make a present for her. I'd looked at some online tutorials of bags, and they were either beyond my skills (plus I was working to a deadline) or just not what I had in mind. So, I decided to jot down the design I had in mind and let my artistic husband decipher my scibbles and turn it into a pattern, which he did!

It was very easy, and I plan on making more. As with all self-designed projects, I've thought of improvements I can make to it, but I'm sure that Montana will love it anyway. If she doesn't, I already stocked up on some funky Smiggle stationery supplies to go inside the bag that will make her happy :)

Wrap Skirt

I was very excited yesterday when I could finally wear my skirt - the first article of clothing I've ever sewn - for the first time!

Let me share my journey ...

I found a tutorial online on how to make an easy wrap skirt, which I very optimistically thought "I can do that!". I already had some funky patterned material which I absolutely loved, and decided would feature in my wonderful creation, and so took a trip with my wonderful husband and picked the main fabric for it. At first, it was all going great, I was seriously thinking I would have it finished by the following day, and then came the problems ...

I will just point out that I'm not sure whether it was the tutorial that was lacking in information, or me that was lacking in experience (I suspect a bit of both, which is why I haven't included the link to the tutorial to be fair), but in trying to follow the instructions given I kept realising that it Just. Didn't. Work. My husband was great - he kept me going with suggestions and encouragement - and in the end it all worked fine. The skirt was initially meant to be a wrap skirt which tied at the side, but right at the end we realised it just didn't work so I gave it some funky buttons instead and removed the ties. I also lined it, which wasn't in the tutorial either, so I can be quite proud of my own little creation. 

I've decided though, that the next article of clothing I make will be from a pattern :) 

Front

Back

More hair accessories

I've discovered that, with not much effort, hair accessories are so easy to make yourself. I'm always after something different to put in my hair (to make it look like I've done something different, when I really haven't!) and so these ideas are perfect for me.

Button Hair Tie

Button Clip

A big thanks to LiDDesignsSupplies for the gorgeous buttons!